In volleyball, a setter is the team’s quarterback in charge of making quick decisions and running the offense.

Eden Prairie has entrusted the position this season to first-year varsity starter Paige Brueggeman, a junior who had been playing mostly as an outside hitter.

Eagles coach Chad Becker said that changing to the setting position was the best move for Brueggeman, who would’ve had to beat her sister, senior Ashley, to play right side.

“She won the battle between our other setters based on her defensive performance,” Becker said. 

However, it was Brueggeman’s ability to run the offense that was on display as Eden Prairie defeated Minnetonka 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 in a Lake Conference match Thursday night at Eden Prairie High School.

She finished with 37 assists and seven kills, while recording two blocks.

Brueggeman said being a setter was a role she had to get used to.

“It’s a change, but I like it,” she said.

The biggest challenge for any setter is learning how to adjust to different hitters, making sure each set is the height and speed a hitter wants. Senior captain and outside hitter Briley Nichols has stepped up in making Brueggeman feel comfortable on the court.

“It’s difficult to adjust to new setters, but Paige is awesome, so it’s been easy,” Nichols said.

The connection and friendship is working in numbers for the Eagles (8-0), ranked No. 6 in the Class 2A coaches’ poll. Nichols had 18 kills and just one error in Eden Prairie’s sweep of the Skippers, amounting to a .895 hitting percentage. If she were playing Major League Baseball, Nichols would never come off the field.

“She’s been playing phenomenally, offensively on the ball,” Becker said, “I’d say she’s made the biggest strides from last season to this season.”

Becker has not only encouraged Nichols to put the ball down, but also be the senior leader for the team. She’s done a good job, Brueggeman said.

“She’s really welcoming; it makes everything easier because she’s happy and positive,” Brueggeman said.

And Brueggeman keeps getting better every day, Becker said. 

One remaining problem is how much Ashley Brueggeman wants to be on the receiving end of her sister’s sets.

“Yeah, she kinda got mad because I didn’t set her that much tonight,” Paige said. 

Eden Prairie continued its undefeated streak with a 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 over Minnetonka in a Lake Conference matchup at Eden Prairie High School on Thursday night.

Senior outside hitter Briley Nichols led the Eagles with 18 kills and one error for a .895 hitting percentage.

Eight kills from Eden Prairie junior middle Elena Lewis kept the Skippers at bay. On her birthday, senior right side Ashley Brueggeman finished with seven kills and 10 digs. Brueggeman’s younger sister, junior setter Paige, had 37 assists.  

The Skippers (6-3) stuck to a solid game plan of using their middle hitters as much as possible, led by sophomore Katelyn Lannon’s 14 kills. Junior Emma Alberts finished with 11 kills. Senior libero Samantha Melin had 11 digs, but it wasn’t enough to halt the Eagles (8-0), ranked No. 6 in the Class 3A coaches' poll. 

Spotlight Game Coverage